Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



' F. v-oN MARTIN.k

W. HNHK v tbritrd time FRIEDRICH VON MARTINL'OF FRAUENFELD, SWITZERLAND.

Letters Patent No. 90,614, dated May 25, 1869.

The Schedule referred to these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRIEDRICH von MARTINI, of Frauenfeld, Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Fire- Arms; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a tire-arm made in accordance with my invent-ion, the parts being 1n the positionthey occupyat the moment the tiring-pin strikes the cartridge.

Figure 2 is a like sectionfof the same, with the parts in position to allow the insertion of the cartridge.

Figure 3 is a top view of the receiver, which contains the movable vbreech-block.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the breech-block and forked vibrating lever for operating the same, showing the construction and relative position of said parts.

This invention relates to that class of fire-arms in which a vertically-tilting or swinging breech-block is employed with a tiring-pin, which may be either a percussion-pin or a needle, actuated by a special spring, the arm being arranged for either a central fire or an annular-tire cartridge. In the drawings, however, I have represented the parts adapted to receive a central-fire cartridge.

A is the breech-receiver, which unites the barrel B with the stock C. It consists of a rectangular piece of metal, in which is formed an opening with parallel sides, containing the movable breech A, pivoted at a, the discharging-mechanism, and the extractor.

The rear end of the barrel is-enlarged to form a cartridge-chamber.

The movable breech is elevated or depressed by means of a lever, E, vibrating on the pivot F. The short arm of the lever is received in a slot, formed in the breech, and its end is rounded to admit of its free movement. The breech is Ythus supported by the levell in such manner as to prevent all liability of its changing its position, or becoming deranged by reason of the force of the explosion at the moment of firing. v

In the upper side of the breech is a groove or recess, which coincides with the bore of the barrel, when the breech is in position to allow the insertion of the cartridge.

G is a cartridge leveirextractor, which effects the withdrawal of the case of the exploded cartridge.

H is the firing-pin, and J its spring. They are bothv received in the breech-block, and maintained in position by means of the annular retaining-screw K.

Y The vibrating lever E is forked to receive the cocking lever L. The longer arm of this lever L, formed as before explained, passes into a slot in the firing-pin H. The shorter arm is provided with a projecting shoulder, which strikes againsta corresponding one on the lever E; and, besides this, it is notched to reeeive the upper arm of the trigger M, which engages with it when it is turned back by the lever E in the opera-tion of opening the breech. When the latter lever is thrown forward to lower the breech-block, its shoulder, pressing against the corresponding shoulder of the lever L, causes vthe latter to move back until the upper end of the trigger, moved by its spring, drops into the notch; and consequently, when the lever E is again brought back to its place to eect the closing of the breech, the cocking-lever L does not follow its movement, but held back by the trigger. It, in turn, holds back the ring-pin, whose spring is compressed and in readiness to force forward the pin the moment the trigger is` pressed, so as to be disengaged from the cooking-lever.

The breech-block, when being drawn down by the lever E, strikes against the free end of the pivoted extractor-lever G, which is thus actuated to effect the complete withdrawal of the cartridge-case, and at the same time the upper end of the trigger catches in the notch in the cocking-lever. A fresh cartridge can be introduced in the barrel. The breech-block is thenelevated by drawing back its'tilting-lever, and the gun is again ready to be fired.

When it is desired to uncock, it is necessary that the lever E should be thrown forward as far as possible without withdrawing the cartridge. The trigger is then pulled, and the lever is drawn gently back into its place.

There is no danger attending this operation, as the spring cannot act on the viring-piu to any extent While the breech-block is depressed.

Nor is there any greater danger of the gun being fired while the breech is open, since the movementof the ring-pin, when it is released, will cause, through the intermediary of the cooking-lever L, the breech-` block to be tightly pressed into place.

If the gun is loaded but uncooked, and it is desired to cock it, it is only necessary to move' the lever E suticiently to cause the trigger to engage with its notch in the cooking-lever, and then to carry back the former lever to its place.

In order to indicate whether the piece is cocked or not, an indicating-pin, N, is arranged in the rear part ofthe breech-receiver, as shown in the drawings, so as to project from the receiver when the gun is cocked,` and to be concealed within the same when the gun is uncooked or discharged. A blow upon this pin cannot in any event canse the discharge of the piece,

If, after firing, the cartridge-case is not disengaged and expelled at the first opening of the breech, it will be ordinarily suiicient, in order to effect its extraction, to repeat the movement quickly, but without pressing the trigger. But if this should not eiect it, thecase can be removed by the clearing-needle.'

The construction of this arm differs in many important respects from others of an analogous construction. There is no cock, or dog, nor bolt; and the Whole striking-mechanism is comprised in a simple'fin'ng-pn arranged inthe breech. The hinged vertically-moving the barrel.

breech allows the cartridge to be inserted, and closes It is maintained in ,place during the discharge without the intervention of springs, clutches, or other locking-devices ordinarily employed, and by the tilting-lever alone, whose shorter arm, the cookinglever, is arranged in such manner as to render it im possible for the breech to be displaced by the violenceA of the explosion.

The extractor is placed by the side of and not above the cartridge. It bears against the side of the receiver, and forms a support for the end of the cartridge.V

The spring of the percussion-pin retains its elastic force, as it is submitted to but a very slight compression; and if it should at any time happen to break, it can be replaced by another with very little trouble and expense.

rlhis arm, in fact, unites in itselfl the two essential qualiications of extreme simplicity of construction and great ease in manipulation. It is durable, and not easily damaged, even when in the hands of unskilled Y persons, and can be handled Without danger. It can be loaded and discharged in four motions, and can be fired twenty-two times a minute without sighting, and sixteen times a minute with sighting. Having described my invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into eiect,

yWhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is e 1. The tilting-lever and cooking-lever, in combination with the hinged and vertically=swinging breechblock, under 'thc arrangement and for operation as herein shown and set forth.

2. Thecornbination, with the cocking-lever and main tilting-lever, of the hinged and vertically-swinging breech, and thefiring-pin and its spring,larranged spring ofthe firing-pin, and hold said pin in its cocked position duringl the raising of the breech-block, substantiallyin the manner shown and specified.

4. The combinatioinwith the swinging breech and sliding firing-pins, of the indicator-pin, arranged in the rear of the breech receiver, and in juxtaposition with the breech and tiring-pin, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have signed myname to this speciiication, before two subscribing witnesses.

FR.' v. MARTINI.

Witnesses:

O. LINNCKOGEL, J Aeon BAUMANN. 

